The Best Markers for Brush Lettering
The Best Markers for Brush Lettering
Brush lettering is so fun! Learning is really just a matter of practice. You can read more about brush lettering and snag some free practice sheets here.
You can find a ton of lettering inspiration and videos on my Instagram!
Beyond markers, there are actually several other ways to do brush lettering. These are the supplies I use most often when brush lettering.
Basic Tools:
I do all my sketching in pencil. Once I’m happy with my layout, lettering, and design, I go over it in marker, let dry, and gently erase out my pencil lines.
- Tombow Sand Eraser – This awesome little eraser is made of natural rubber latex and silica grit. Why is it so cool? It can erase inks and some markers too! Pretty handy for a lettering artist.
- PaperMate Black Pearl Erasers – Not only are they cheap, the eraser dust “balls” so it’s easy to clean up and since it’s black it doesn’t look dirty like pink erasers.
- Palomino Blackwing 602 Pencils – Swoon-worthy pencils with replaceable erasers. My box has lasted me over a year and I draw/letter daily (I bought my current box January 14, 2015!
- Helix T-Square – I use this for nearly every drawing/lettering piece I do. It’s perfect for drawing guidelines to keep your lettering straight.
Paper:
- Canson Marker Paper – This paper is so silky smooth and gentle on your brush tips!
- Rhodia Dot Pad – If, like me, you can’t keep your lettering straight on your own, this is the pad for you as the inside has a dot grid perfect for anyone wanting a subtle grid. Dots are pale violet with 5mm intervals.
- Strathmore Mixed Media Vellum Surface in 9×12 – This is my go to pad for most artwork and lettering. If you’re a lefty like me, you might find the 11×14 size easier to work in since your writing hand is on the same side as the spirals.
The Really Fun Stuff:
- Tombow Fudenosuke (Fude) – If you’re just starting out, these are THE pens to start with hands-down. See my comparison of the Fude to the Dual Tips below.
- Tombow Dual Tips – These. are. amazing. In my Brush Calligraphy Guide + Workbook (below) I show you some really fun ways you can use these, like blending two colors together! Their flexible nylon fiber brush tip, creates medium or bold strokes by changing brush pressure (light pressure for upstrokes, heavy for downstrokes).
- Round Paintbrushes – I use the No. 1 for smaller lettering and No. 4 for larger lettering.
- Water Brushes – The Pentel Arts Aquash water brush can be filled with water to blend, or you can add your favorite ink or dye to make your own portable brush. My favorite is the fine tip.
- Dr. Ph Martin’s Bombay India Inks, Set 1 – These are my favorite watercolors by far and what you see my using in 90% of the videos I post on Instagram. I also have Set 2 and the colors are amazing! My favorite solid Watercolors are the Kuretake Gansai Tambi 36 Color Set.
- Sumi Ink – I use this in my water brushes for black lettering. I mix the ink and water about 50/50.
Ready to learn and practice?
Check out my full guide + workbook here. (Click the link for all the details on what’s included!)
Have you joined my FREE Art + Lettering class yet? It’s a great way to get even more practice. Click the image below to join (it’s run via Facebook group and set up so you can join in and catch up at any time)! Join the creative fun here.
Happy Lettering!
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Wow I never knew word design could be so popular. I have been using word design since I was a teenager. It did not seem so popular in my neck of the words so I have done it at a bare minimum.
I just may take your classes to see if I can dredge up old memories and get the creative juices to flowing.
Thanks.
Brenda
Hello!!
I just found your blog and I love it. I am having a problem figuring out how to store my pens and markers. I don’t always use them all every day and I am finding that some of them are leaking out the tip and some are drying out. I am wondering if it’s how I am keeping them. How do you keep yours?
Thank you,
MoniQ
Hi MoniQ! I store most of mine horizontally in what’s actually a wooden show organizer. I usually visit the marker brand’s website’s FAQs section. They usually have a storage recommendation there. Some require horizontal storage, but not all! (Tombow’s do not require it for example, you can store them either way). Hope this helps!
Thank you so much!! That helps a lot!!
What is the difference between the Tombow Fudensueke hard & soft pens. Which should I use for practice sheets?
Whether you use hard or soft tip is entirely personal preference so I always recommend people order the pack of both and see which they prefer. I use both regularly. The soft tip is simply more flexible than the hard tip (which is still flexible but in a more rigid way). I hope that makes sense!